Clutch



Dec. 25, 1934. I w J. PEARMAIN I 1,985,422

CLUTCH Filed March 28, 1932 F &

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J Pea/numb Patented D e. 25, 1934 I i v 1,985,422

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William J. Pearmain, Racine, Wis., assignor.to Twin Disc Clutch Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin 4Application March-28, 1932, Serial No. 601,494

' 4 Claims. (01. 192-68) My invention relates to clutches and moreparing face 13 which is intended to engage with ticularly to a device ofthis character in which a facing 14 of frictional material riveted in atransmission of power is efiectedthrough mechacounterbor'ed recess 15provided on the adjacent nism which is normally in driving'engagement.side of a driving plate 16. The peripheral edge One object of myinvention is to devise a clutch of the plate 16 is provided with apluralityof 5 of the spring loaded type in which a driving plate teeth17 which mesh with similar teeth 18 formed is interposed between, andhas driving engageinternally on an annular plate 19 that constimentwith, a'pair of gripping members, release tutes the other rotary part ofthe clutch and of these parts being effected by 'a plurality of which inthe present instance,isthe driving memsuitably actuated clutch leverswhich are adaptber thereof. As shown clearly in the drawing, 10 ed foradjustment as the clutch facings wear in the teeth 18 are somewhatlonger than the teeth order to permit a full driving engagement of the1'7, so that the plate 16 is capacitated for axial parts when thereleasing force is removed. lmovement relative to the plate 19, thisconstruc- A further object is to"'devise a clutch of the tion beingavailed of to insure a positive release I '15 type indicated whichis-characterized by a comof the friction facing 14 from the fixed plate1'2,

'Deetness and thinness of desig through a nov l when the clutch partsare released as hereinafter arrangement forpartially housing the clutchd scribed, levers between, or. in which'a portion of each lever o thopposite side of the plate 16 from the is Substantially included Withinthe Outline of, the fixed plate 12 is a pressure plate 20 which also 20pp b includes a wearing face 21 that engages with 20 A fu t e jec is top v a clutch n which? a friction facing 14 on the adjacent side of the.the inner or releasin'gends of the clutch leversm t 1 t 1 1;named-facing being it ated and age with the inner face-of the pressu Paflixed to the plate 16 in'a manner identical with which constitutes oneO t e ippi members, that heretofore described with respect to the left25 prbvision being made for laterally Shifting the facing 14, asindicated in the drawing. The pres- 25 position of the levers as thefacings wear, so that sure plate 20 is carried by, and is shiftablerelathe leverswill notinterfere with the movements t e' t t fixed at 12t h th medium Of t pressure Plate i i Positionof a plurality of studs22, one end of each of A further object is to devise a clutch whichiswhich is threaded in the plate 12 and extends cha a t y Simplicity Odesign, eaee 6f, through an appropriate aperture provided in the 30 r daccessibility for adjustment, and a Capacity pressure plate 20 toreceive on the opposite end for being installed in locations where theavailthereof a nut Between said t and t ab e spa is restricted. jacentside of the plate 20, a helical spring 24 These and further ObJeCtS Ofmy invention encircles the stud 22 and serves to nonnauy mainbe setrth-i the ollow g sp t n, c tain driving engagement of the late 20 with35 erence home had to the accompanying d win the driving plate 16 and ofthe latter with the and the novel means wh by e Objects are fixed plate12. As many of the studs ,22 may be effcciucied W be definitely-Pointedout in utilized as is prescribed by the design requireclalms. ments ofthe clutch and it will be understood that The drawing 15 a sectionalelevat'len of my these studs, and accordingly the springs 24, willimproved u c the ev parts being Shown be distributed around the shaft 10in the most in a released position, and it being further underconvenientand suitable manna; stood that, when viewed endwise, the clutch pos- ASt t above, t springs 24 normally maim 588885 a generally elrculelOutline tain driving engagement of the several parts, and

Referring o t d w the numeral 10 desigin order to release these parts,or move them to nates a shaft which constitutes one of the rotary tSeveral positions shown in the drawing, th parts of the device and whicin t present following instrumentalities are provided. A plusta-nce,will be considered as the driven member, lit of e1ut h levers 25 ispivotally mounted a t the Conditions Operation may be on pins 26 whichare carried on an adjustable d0 versed i this p ticu r, as will be ilyundercollar 27 that is threaded on the hub 11, the levers stood. Theleft. end of the shaft is keyed or 25 being preferably equi-spacedaround the shaft otherwise secured to a hub 11 which has provided 10 inorder to most effectively apply the releasthereon a fixed plate 12 whichconstitutes one ing force as hereinafter described. The innerend of thegripping'members-of the clutch. of each lever 25 is provided with a stubarm 28 The plate 12 is provided with an annular wearwhich bears againstthe inner face of the pres- 55 centrifugal force and the pressure of thesure plate 20, while the other arm 29 of the lever projects externallyof the clutch and is received within a cup-shaped .part 30 provided on asleeve 31 that is shiftable on the shaft 10', but keyed thereto in someconvenient manner, the sleeve 31 being appropriately moved by acollar.32'in the usual manner.

The part 30 comprises a cylindrical surface 33 which merges into aconical surface 34 that flares outwardly of the sleeve 31 toward thepressure plate 20. When the clutch is in a. released position, therounded noses 35 on the lever arms 29 engage with the cylindricalsurface 33, but when the sleeve 31 is moved toward the right, as viewedin the drawing, these noses ride outwardly against the conical surface34, being impelled by springs 24. l g

In clutches of this type, it is customary to so position the sleeve 31that it always engages with the noses 35 and hence, as the facings 14wear, a point will ultimately be reached when the clutch levers willprevent a complete return of the pressure plate 20 to drivng position,since the lever arms 29 will beheld against adequate rotation by contactwith the sleeve part 30. Under these conditions, the clutch will eithernot transmit any power, or it will be characterized by bad slippage. l

Whenthis condition is reached in the operation of the clutch; it ismerely necessary, in the present design, to actuate the combinationindex and locking pin 36 which is slidably mounted in a the adjustingring 27 and comprises a part 37 which is receivable in one of severalapertures 38 appropriately distributed around the fixed plate 12. Thepin 36 is normally held in locking position by means of a spring 39which encircles the pin within the ring 27, one end of the springengaging a shoulder 40 provided in the ring and the opposite end awasher 41 which seats against a portion of the ring 27 that is peenedover the hole in the ring which receives the spring 39.

When the pin 36is withdrawn, the ring 2'! is rotated in the appropriatedirection unt.l the necessary clearance is obtained between the stub arm28 and the pressure plate 20, whereupon the pin 36 may be reinserted inthe nearest aperture 38. g m

The c nstruction of the" clutch and the arrangeme t of the leversis-such that any desired relation can be established between the sleeve31, levers- 25 and the adjusting ring 2'? for the purpose of making, thebest allowance for wear, that is, for example, the inital setting of thelevers 25 may be such as to allow for one half of ,the total wearpermissible, with the adjusting ring 2'7 adapted for movement to takecare of the remaining wear, or other arrangements may be adopted as willbe readily apparent.

It will be obvious that, when the sleeve 31 is moved toward the left tooccupythe position shown substantially in the drawing, thereby movingthe pressure plate 20 to the released position shown, the driving plate16 will bethrown out of contact with the fixed plate 12, owing to itsacet tes capacity for shifting axially relative thereto, that is, byreason of its toothed engagement with the annular drivingplate 19. Oneof the most important advantages of the present design is itscompactness, since the clutch levers are substantially housed within themajor dimensions of opposite side-cf said driving plate, clutch leversmounted for simultaneous adjustment on said fixed plate, each having anarm engaging a substantially aligned continuation of the working face ofsaid pressure plate, and meansfor rocking said levers to releasesaid'pressure plate.

2. The ,combination of a driving plate conj nected to a rotary part, afixed plate having a hub connected to a second rotary part and disposedon one side of said driving plate, a collar threaded on said hub, apressure plate connected to said fixed plate and disposed on theopposite side of said driving plate, clutch levers mounted on saidcollar, each having an arm engaging the inner face of said pressure.plate, and means for rocking said levers to release said pressure plate.

3. The combination ,of a driving plate connected to a rotary part,afixed plate connected to a second rotary part and disposed on one sideof said driving plate, a pressure plate connected to said fixed plateand disposed on the opposite side of said driving plate, 'a plurality ofstuds mounted in said fixed plate, and extending ,through said pressureplate, springs carried by said studs for actuating said pressure plateinto driving engagement with said driving plate, said springs bearingagainst said pressure plateand projecting externally of the clutch,clutch levers mounted for simultaneous adjustment on said fixed plate,each having an arm engaging a substantially aligned continuation of theworking face of said pre'ssure'plate, and means for rock- 1 ing saidlev'ers to release said pressure plate.

4. The combination of a'driving plate having shiftable engagement with arotary part; a fixed plate connectedto a second rotary part and disposedon one side of said driving plate, a pressure plate connected to, saidflxed plate and disposed on the opposite side of said driving plate,clutch levers connected to said fixed plate andsimultaneouslyadjustablelrelative thereto, each having an arm engagingasubstantiallyaligned continuation of the working face of saidpressureplate and a second arm projecting externally of the 1 ressure plate, anda sleeve'having an internal conical surface engageablewith said secondarms to release. said pressure. plate, said sleeveengaging with saidsecond ar sin the driving and released positions of the clutch, I J IWILLIAM J. BEARMAIN.

